2016 DEUCE JUNIOR TOURNAMENT REPORT
This year’s tournament was unusual in its lack of three set matches on Finals Day compared with previous years, only the 10U Girls of the ten singles events, and 14U Girls & Mixed doubles going beyond ‘two straight’, a total of three out of sixteen finals. Whether this was due to very talented winners or, on the day, off-form runners-up is a matter for conjecture.
At 123, the number of entrants was the highest for the past ten years, but not reflected proportionately in the entries of 180i.e. the participation in all the events. This was particularly significant in the 18U Boy’s singles in that ten individuals who played in the 18U Doubles didn’t enter that or the 16U Singles. Why? The event was won well though by newcomer James Youle beating both the top seeds in the process– where’s he been all these years? Playing badminton mostly – followed by the 18U Mixed doubles with Kate Eastall. However, the ‘Alan Jessop Outstanding Performance’ award went to Ellen Plaskitt who won both the 16U & 18U Girls singles and the 18U Girls doubles with Charlotte King; her 18U final v Jasmine Brown was somewhat tentative with two big swings in the lead in the first set and both playing below their best, the absence of any previous rounds maybe being the cause. The ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ to the tournament award went to Oscar Dobson and mention must be made of Thomas Everest Wilcock who retained his 9U title whilst winning the 10U also, surely a future winner of older age groups.
The 12U, 14U & 16U Boys singles provided the bulk of the entries bless ‘em, 56 in all,the winners of each of those events playing four rounds without being extended beyond six games in any set. In other words they all played 48 games, Jamie Duffin losing 17, Bailey Cole 21 and Reuben Newman-Billington only 9.
The weather defied the forecasts for some rain on some days but did supply the hottest day of the year on Tuesday. The kids took the referee’s advice and drank plenty and were in somewhat better condition than the adults who were only watching. In ten years, or fifty days, we haven’t experienced more than a day’s rain in aggregate.
Perhaps the real winner this year was the tournament itself where a new crew were indoctrinated into the mysteries of how to run (some might say how not to run!) Yorkshire’s last closed junior Tournament. Sue Pugh and Fay Buchan, assisted throughout the week by Fay’s son Tom on the referee’s table and Ian, Sue’s husband, on the BBQ and everywhere else, didn’t seem fazed by anything so will take the reins for hopefully the foreseeable future. Julie Webb, Margaret French and I are not leaving the very buoyant ship but going below decks to assist as required, and with Fiona Fellows remaining as pilot the future is bright.
Our thanks to Chris Muscroft & Martin Gilmour for the use of their clubs, Beauchief and Ecclesall respectively, and the following helpers and umpires at both sites: Mushraf, John & Phoebe (Abbeydale);Jonty (Bamford); Becky (Barnsley); Sarah, Simon & Pat (Beauchief); Vicky, Jackie and Jan (Dore & Totley); Jad & Richard (Ecclesall); Ellen & Charlotte (Graves);Ray (Hallamshire); John (Moorgate); Jack & Amber (Welbeck); Pam (Wheatley Hills). Special thanks to Pauline Andrews for the beautiful bouquets at bargain basement prices!
Finally our thanks once again to Penny Jameel of Deuce UK who gifts all those vouchers as well as providing a ball supply service to all the clubs throughout the year.
All the results can be found on
John Andrews